Flybar tent pole clip

ABSTRACT

A device in the form of a pole clip which attaches to an exterior mounted tent support pole and provides two attachment points for multiple webbing loops found on the exterior or canopy of a tent, thus serving to spread the support provided by the support pole and provide additional interior volume to the tent.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to outdoor camping equipment and parts and fittings therefore, and more particularly, relates to a clip which attaches to an exterior tent support pole as well as attaching to webbing loops on the canopy of the tent to provide additional interior volume in the tent.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A large portion of the population enjoy camping, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities that takes them away from their home overnight. When engaged in these activities, therefore, many people will spend one or more nights in a tent.

Most tents today include one or more exterior mounted support poles. Traditionally, these attach to the tent utilizing a web loop attached to the exterior or canopy of the tent and coupled to a pole clip which is attached to the support pole. The problem with this arrangement, however, is that pulling on the tent canopy from single points along the tent support pole has the effect of “pinching” the volume of the tent at these locations, reducing interior volume, and thereby reducing comfort and usable space for the occupants.

Accordingly, what is needed is a device which can attach to the support pole while providing attachment points to multiple webbing loops found on the tent canopy, thus serving to “spread” the support provided by the support pole and provide additional interior volume to the tent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features a support clip having a length and including a first end, a second end, and a central portion disposed between the first and second ends. The central portion includes a pole attachment region configured for attaching to a support pole, and wherein each of the first and second ends include a webbing loop attachment region, configured for attaching to a webbing loop.

In one embodiment, the attachment region of the support clip is configured for frictionally and releasably attaching to the support pole while in one or more embodiments, the webbing loop attachment region of each of the first and second ends is configured for releasably attaching to a webbing loop.

Another feature of the present invention is that the webbing loop attachment region in each of the first and second ends of the support clip May include an opening in the first and second ends of the support clip which may be “H” shaped.

The pole attachment region includes a generally “C” shaped pole attachment region wherein the generally “C” shaped pole attachment region is configured for being frictionally and releasably attached to a round pole. The first and second ends of the support clip are configured for attaching to first and second webbing loops.

In another embodiment, the first and second webbing loops are attached to a canopy of a tent, and disposed on first and second sides of a support pole.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention features a support clip having a length and including a first end, a second end, and a central portion disposed between the first and second ends. The central portion includes a pole attachment region, configured for frictionally and releasably attaching to a support pole, wherein the pole attachment region includes a generally “C” shaped pole attachment region, configured for being frictionally and releasably attached to a round support pole. Each of the first and second ends include a webbing loop attachment region, configured for releasably attaching to first and second webbing loops and wherein the first and second webbing loops are attached to a canopy of a tent and disposed on first and second sides of the support pole. The webbing loop attachment region in each of the first and second ends of the support clip includes an opening in the first and second ends of the support clip that may be, in one embodiment, “H” shaped.

Another aspect of the present invention is a tent pole support clip for use with a tent and a tent support pole. The tent pole support clip is configured for attaching to a tent support pole and first and second tent web loops disposed on the exterior or canopy of a tent, for supporting a tent and expanding the interior volume of the tent.

This aspect of the invention includes a tent including a tent support pole and a plurality of pairs of tent support webbing loops, each pair of the tent support webbing loops disposed on an exterior region or canopy of the tent on either side of a location in which is placed the tent support pole.

A tent support clip having a length and including a first end, a second end, and a central portion disposed between the first and second ends is provided. The central portion includes a tent support pole attachment region, configured for frictionally and releasably attaching to the a support pole, wherein the tent support pole attachment region includes a generally “C” shaped tent support pole attachment region, configured for being frictionally and releasably attached to a round tent support pole disposed proximate the exterior region or canopy of the tent. Each of the first and second ends of the tent support clip include a webbing loop attachment region, configured for releasably attaching to first and second webbing loops and wherein the first and second webbing loops are attached to the canopy of the tent and disposed on first and second sides of the tent support pole, and wherein the webbing loop attachment region in each of the first and second ends of the support clip includes an opening in the first and second ends of the support clip, for releasably attaching to the first and second webbing loops. The opening in the first and second ends of the tent support clip may be “H” shaped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a close-up prospective you of the flybar pole clip according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a prospective you of a tent with one exterior support pole illustrating the use of the flybar pole clip of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a prospective close-up view of one flybar pole clip according to the present invention installed on and supporting a tent; and

FIG. 4 is a detailed end view of one end of the flybar pole clip of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention features a flybar pole clip 10, FIG. 1 including a central region 12 designed to clip on to a tent support pole as well as first and second opposite ends 14, 16 configured for interconnecting with one or more webbing loops attached to the exterior or “canopy” of a tent. The flybar pole clip 10 is preferably a plastic part made of nylon or similar material and is sized approximately 9 inches long and 1½ inches wide. The central region 12 includes a generally “C” shaped opening 18 designed to frictionally and releasably fit around a tent support pole 20, FIG. 2.

The first and second opposite end portions 14, 16 include webbing loop capture elements 22 a, 22 b which are sized, shaped and configured so as to allow a webbing loop to be inserted into the capture elements 22. In the present embodiment, the capture elements are in the form of the letter “H” which allows a webbing loop to be easily inserted into the capture elements as shown in greater detail in FIG. 4 and ultimately remover from the capture elements as well.

In use, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flybar tent support pole clip 10 is shown inserted or clipped onto the tent support pole 20 while the first and second tent loops 24, 26 disposed in pairs along each side of the tent support pole 20 once in place are inserted respectively into the first and second ends 14, 16 of the flybar pole clip 10. Accordingly, unlike in the prior art wherein a tent has only one support web attached to the support pole, the present invention provides additional headroom or volume to the interior of a tent by holding the tent upright in two locations nearly 10 inches apart on the exterior of the tent on either side of the tent support pole as shown in FIG. 2, thereby spreading the support apart in place of one support in the prior art.

It is to be understood that the fly bar pole clip 10 according to the present invention can be made out of numerous materials and can also be made longer or shorter as desired and required without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A support clip, comprising: a support clip having a length and including a first end, a second end, and a central portion disposed between said first and second ends, said central portion including a pole attachment region, configured for attaching to a support pole, and wherein each of said first and second ends include a webbing loop attachment region, configured for attaching to a webbing loop.
 2. The support clip of claim 1, wherein said attachment region of said support clip is configured for frictionally and releasably attaching to said support pole.
 3. The support clip of claim 1, wherein said webbing loop attachment region of each of said first and second ends is configured for releasably attaching to a webbing loop.
 4. The support clip of claim 1, wherein said webbing loop attachment region in each of said first and second ends of said support clip includes an opening in said first and second ends of said support clip.
 5. The support clip of claim 4, wherein said opening in said first and second ends is “H” shaped.
 6. The support clip of claim 1, wherein said pole attachment region includes a generally “C” shaped pole attachment region.
 7. The support clip of claim 6, wherein said generally “C” shaped pole attachment region is configured for being frictionally and releasably attached to a round pole.
 8. The support clip of claim 1, wherein said first and second ends of said support clip are configured for attaching to first and second webbing loops.
 9. The support clip of claim 8, wherein said first and second webbing loops are attached to an exterior region or canopy of a tent, and disposed on first and second sides of a support pole.
 10. A support clip, comprising: a support clip having a length and including a first end, a second end, and a central portion disposed between said first and second ends, said central portion including a pole attachment region, configured for frictionally and releasably attaching to a support pole, wherein said pole attachment region includes a generally “C” shaped pole attachment region configured for being frictionally and releasably attached to a round support pole, and wherein each of said first and second ends include a webbing loop attachment region, configured for releasably attaching to first and second webbing loops and wherein said first and second webbing loops are attached to an exterior region or canopy of a tent and disposed on first and second sides of said support pole, wherein said webbing loop attachment region in each of said first and second ends of said support clip includes an opening in said first and second ends of said support clip.
 11. The support clip of claim 10, wherein said opening in said first and second ends is H shaped.
 12. A tent pole support clip for use with a tent and a tent support pole, said tent pole support clip configured for attaching to a tent support pole and first and second tent web loops disposed on the exterior of a tent, for supporting a tent and expanding the interior volume of the tent, said tent and tent support clip comprising,: a tent including a tent support pole and a plurality of pairs of tent support webbing loops, each pair of said tent support webbing loops disposed on an exterior region or canopy of said tent on either side of a location in which is placed said tent support pole; and a tent support clip having a length and including a first end, a second end, and a central portion disposed between said first and second ends, said central portion including a tent support pole attachment region, configured for frictionally and releasably attaching to said a support pole, wherein said tent support pole attachment region includes a generally “C” shaped tent support pole attachment region, configured for being frictionally and releasably attached to a round tent support pole disposed proximate said exterior region of said tent, and wherein each of said first and second ends of said tent support clip include a webbing loop attachment region, configured for releasably attaching to first and second webbing loops and wherein said first and second webbing loops are attached to said exterior region or canopy of said tent and disposed on first and second sides of said tent support pole, wherein said webbing loop attachment region in each of said first and second ends of said support clip includes an opening in said first and second ends of said support clip, for releasably attaching to said first and second webbing loops.
 13. The tent support clip of claim 12, wherein said opening in said first and second ends of said tent support clip is “H” shaped. 